Nigeria and the United Nations have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on Africa’s development, democratic governance, women’s leadership and regional economic integration following high-level talks in Abuja.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu met with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, to review the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the UN and explore new areas of collaboration.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu congratulated Eziakonwa on her appointment as a United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, describing it as a significant achievement for Nigeria and the African continent. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing sustainable development, democratic governance and regional prosperity through its partnership with the UN.
The discussions focused on democratic governance, sustainable development, peacebuilding and regional integration, while aligning with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities under the government’s 4-Ds framework of Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora.Eziakonwa highlighted the success of the recent regional dialogue on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), hosted by Nigeria in partnership with the UNDP.
She praised Nigeria’s leadership in promoting regional economic integration, describing the country’s role as vital to the success of the continental trade agreement. She also reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in promoting inclusive economic growth, entrepreneurship, innovation, stronger regional value chains and increased intra-African trade.
The meeting also emphasized expanding opportunities for women and young people across Africa. Eziakonwa invited the minister to mentor participants in the UNDP Regional Leadership Programme for young African women and to attend a high-level gathering of African women leaders scheduled for August.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed the invitation and reiterated Nigeria’s support for initiatives that promote women’s political participation, leadership development and youth empowerment. She also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to working with the United Nations and the UNDP to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
